Drug Dependence among a sample of Nigerian Undergraduates

Self-downing Belief and Self-disclosure as Predictors

Abstract

Drug dependence among Nigerians, particularly the youth is becoming rampant despite its health implications. This study investigated self-downing belief and self-disclosure as predictors of drug dependence among a sample of Nigerian students. Three hundred and fifty-two (352) participants, draw from Nnamdi Azikiwe University participated in the study. A total of 155 males (39.5%) and 195 (60.5%) were females. They were selected for the study using the purposive sampling technique. Their age ranged from 18-50 years, with a mean age of 26.44 and a standard deviation of 6.53. The instruments used were Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), the self-disclosure Questionnaire, and General Attitude and Belief Scale (GABS). The study adopted a predictive design; hence Multiple Regression analysis was employed as the statistical tool for data analysis. Three hypotheses were tested, and the results showed that self-downing belief significantly and positively predicted drug dependence among undergraduate students at (β=.49, t=10.11, p<.05).  The study also found that self-disclosure did not significantly predict drug dependence among undergraduate students at (β =.48, t=1.02, p>.05).  The results further revealed that self-downing belief and self-disclosure jointly and significantly predicted drug dependence among undergraduate students at (R²=.213, F(2,349)=47.86, p<.05). The researchers, therefore, recommended that there should be adequate enlightenment on the consequence of drug dependence in Nigeria with regards to its health, and psychosocial implications.